LBC Express expands network, going digital
LBC Express Holdings, Inc. may spend up to R300 million for the expansion of its branch network nationwide with the aim of opening about 100 branches per year from 2018 to 2020.
In an interview after the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting, LBC President Miguel Angel A. Camahort said though that the target is not set in stone since branch openings can be influenced by various factors.
He said each branch costs about R700,000 to R1 million to open since they don’t put up the building but just equip leased facilities.
Meanwhile, the firm is also undergoing a digital transformation over the next three years after noting that digitalization is poised to disrupt the logistics industry.
“Our vision is anchored on our ability to shift the way we do things — the way we move. With digitalization set to revolutionize the entire industry, we see another opportunity for LBC to define itself across all its business segments,” Camahort said.
He noted that, “technology has, literally, changed every aspect of the way businesses operate — and LBC is on the move to make sure that they lead the pack.”
To that end, LBCis looking into how it can introduce solutions for a market that is connected 24/7, time-starved, with demands anchored on technology’s ability to respond at the speed of need.
Hinging off that, automation of all key processes is necessary to remain relevant in an industry with rising competition from startups who were already leveraging on the capabilities digital technology.
As a response, LBC is now working towards upgrading the company’s core logistics applications to automate all manual processes. Operations will significantly change once fully implemented in 2019.
LBC has just introduced its Cash on Pickup (COP) and Cash on Delivery (COD) services aimed at addressing the growing market trend of online and e-commerce business.
COP and COD utilizes two of LBC’s core services: as a courier of parcels and boxes, and as a payment collection channel.
As a trading place of the buyer and the seller, LBC’s COP guarantees convenient and seamless transactions between seller and buyer.
With this, buyer can now add LBC as a pick up point, instead of the traditional delivery scheme -like delivered at home, office, or meet ups.
For LBC’s COD, on the other hand, the buyer simply pays the item ordered online upon delivery. And LBC takes care of remitting the payment to the seller.